Event Organiser: ICE

Raising the Bayonne Bridge, Guildford

The expansion of the Panama Canal will allow for newer, larger (Post-Panamax) ships with increased clearance requirements. The Bayonne Bridge does not have the required clearance, hence the Post-Panamax ships will not be able to navigate beneath it. Therefore, to accommodate increasingly larger vessels the Port Authority looked at a number of options including: replacing the bridge or constructing a tunnel.

However, raising the roadway by 40% (19.5m) within the confines of the classic arch structure whilst keeping the bridge open to traffic was the quicker and most cost effective option.